Ragging row in Odisha college: Cops record statement

Swetaparna Published On : Nov 10, 2016 at 11:18 PM

Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Cuttack, Nov 10:

With the recording of the statement of the victim, the Twin City Commissionerate police today began its investigations in the case pertaining to alleged ragging of a differently-abled girl student of Ravenshaw Junior College in Odisha’s Cuttack by her co-students.

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While the police recorded her statement, the victim is undergoing treatment at the Mental Health Institute at the SCB Medical College & Hospital for trauma after the incident.

Police had yesterday registered an FIR against four girl students named by the victim’s father in the complaint and has charged them under Sections 341, 323, 294, 427, 34 of the IPC, police said.

“Yesterday a case has been registered in Malgodown police station. Police have started investigating the case. We have recorded the statement of the victim lady. Further action will be taken after verification from college authorities,” informed Sanjeev Arora, DCP Cuttack speaking to reporters here today.

On the other hand, the college authorities have denied of ragging having taken place and have stated that they would cooperate with the police in its investigation.

“Preliminary investigations have revealed that no ragging had taken place. But then we will fully cooperate with the police in its investigations,” stated Prakash Chandra Sarangi, Vice Chancellor of Ravenshaw University to reporters.

Notably, the differently-abled girl student hailing from Patkura area of Kendrapara district was studying in the First year class of Plus Two Science. She had informed her family of being tortured by some senior students in the hostel.

On being informed, the victim’s father had visited the college and discussed the matter with the hostel authorities. The matter was resolved after the accused girl students (tormentors) promised not to harass the victim.

However, later they again harassed the victim. The victim, who left for her home in a traumatized state, fell ill on reaching home.

Her family members after admitting her to Mental Health Institute at the SCB Medical College & Hospital for treatment filed a complaint on the matter at the Malgodown police station on Wednesday.

“Some senior girl students had been subjecting my daughter to physical and mental torture. I had asked the hostel authorities to change my daughter’s room. The concerned girls had requested me not to get my daughter’s room changed and had told me that they would leave after four months. They stated that getting my daughter’s room changed would tarnish their reputation. They also promised that they won’t further harass my daughter. Since the matter was resolved mutually in presence of hostel authorities, I did not report the matter to the principal of the college. However, they again tortured my daughter and now she is in such a condition. I have lodged a complaint with the police but no action has been taken yet,” said the victim’s father.

The Public Relations Officer (PRO) of Ravenshaw University while refuting allegations of ragging has said: “This wasn’t ragging. It’s a dispute between the junior and senior students. The incident was probed by a joint committee comprising of officials of the varsity and the college. The committee has clarified after its probe that it was not ragging.”